Remodeled kitchen blends easily with rural character of rustic Stanwood home

After removing the kitchen's walk-in pantry and stealing a bit of space from the garage to expand the kitchen, the Niziches and Lucek began selecting earth tones and interesting textures to define their new space.

They chose granite tile counters with auburn accents and a sandy-beige backsplash, and cobblestone-configured floor tiles. They used metallic copper accents to create an Old World ambience, including a custom-made copper range hood.

They also selected two cabinet colors.

Their kitchen's nod to the country style is a brandy-stained knotty alder antiqued with a black glaze. In areas where they wanted a brighter look or a contrast, Lucek and the Niziches relied on creamy yellow cabinets with a coffee-colored glaze.

New wood-framed windows carry on the country theme while bringing extra light into the space. Behind the stove, diamond-shaped Rustic Tile stones alternate with polished tiles to add a rural character.

Antique-bronze-finish hardware, including drawer pulls, a pot filler over the stove and an antique-style faucet over a white farmhouse sink, tie the room together.

Pat Nizich, who makes furniture as a hobby, chose thick, black walnut to create an inviting warm buffet in the space between the kitchen and the dining room.

"It's like having a piece of furniture between the two rooms," he said. "It just shows character."

Corbels under the bar and cabinets with feet at the floor bolster the effect of simple but superior craftsmanship.

Some of the most interesting features in the space are also practical.

When designing the backsplash, for example, Lucek and the Niziches chose small travertine accent tiles butted together eliminating the need for grout.